From the streets of New York City comes Timothy Dark with his debut release titled Dark Journey.

It's easy to tell from the artwork to the first spin that Dark doesn't follow the status quo for hip hop, but matches his flow to a different beat.

This emcee travels down several different paths, all designed to bring a message of enlightenment and hope to his listeners. Keep your ears peeled for "Religion", which features Nellie McKay on lead vocals. This track see hip hop collide with folk for an eclectic mix that puts you in a time warp, as McKay's folk-filled vocals layer the urban track.

"Nothing But Pain" is an emotionally charged song as Dark paints an interesting lyrical picture describing a sea of hurt. This track has a slower rock feel and is the perfect backdrop.

Dark utilizes music for perhaps its truest intention...to simply express himself. This is not your average hip hop CD and certainly not your ordinary holy hip hop project.

Dark voices his political viewpoint in the hidden track "I Love America (But She Don't Love Me) Remix" where he takes full advantage of his First Amendment right to expression. Again, stepping out of the box, Dark rhymes this entire song over the backdrop of an acoustic guitar.

The strength of this 12-track project lies in Dark's ability to fuse different styles of music to express himself. He keeps you guessing as to what he'll do next. The ride is not an ordinary ride but rather a look into his Dark Journey.